Text Jean-Louis Basset • Photos Laurent Scavone for Moto Heroes
If you say "Florent Pagny," you're sure to respond "the singer" or "The Voice coach"... It would be a shame to label him this way and forget the motorcyclist who's passionate about beautiful British bikes and the entrepreneur.
In the very beginning, he was an actor. A young man with a bit of a rogue look who was supposed to film a commercial to raise awareness among conscripts about the dangers of motorcycle riding. "I was supposed to do everything you shouldn't do on a motorcycle, then show the correct way to ride," explains Florent. "Fifteen days before filming began, they asked for my license. But I don't have a license!" It wasn't starting well. Young Florent was sent to Montlhéry for an intensive course where he rode from morning to night. He emerged with his license in hand and could begin his acting career. At that time, Florent didn't yet own a motorcycle, and he rode a trail bike that was a bit too tall for him, loaned by Honda. Tired of falling over, Florent returned the Honda and bought himself a Thunderbird 6T, a Triumph classic. "I already had a lot of affinity for Vintage," comments Florent. The young man used this machine daily, which can be translated as "A motorcycle is made for riding," a proverb to which one must add "I pity the motorcyclist who has never had the pleasure of pushing a Triumph."
With the release of the 883, Florent Pagny fell in love with Harley Davidsons but crashed the small V-twin on the périphérique. It was a learning experience (as a motorcyclist, of course), and Florent bought an old 1971 "1000 iron" with his first earnings. He still remembers that the Sportster didn't brake, that the throttle was stiff, and that he still owns it, 38 years after acquiring it... Is Florent a "true" enthusiast? It's certainly one of the qualities of this public figure.
"I went crazy," explains Florent. "We used to go with friends to buy motorcycles deep in the English countryside."
Shortly after his beginnings with American motorcycles, Florent Pagny embarked on a singing career, and success came his way. "That's when I got a little carried away and bought a lot of Harleys," Florent confesses. Sold one by one, his beautiful American bikes helped him through a professional slump. Florent himself admits that he suffers from "acute collecting mania": motorcycles, jackets, helmets, lighters, watches... "At one point, I'm insatiable, but it motivates me to work and achieve my dreams." Florent explains this by the fact that he never had a bicycle when he was a child, so ever since, he's been trying to make up for lost time! After the Harley period, Florent returned to basics by getting Coluche's Triumph Trident. "At that time, I had just acquired a 1966 TT, and I found myself with three rare Triumphs," confides the old British bike enthusiast. From then on, Florent tirelessly collected the brand's most significant machines since 1915. "I went crazy," explains Florent. "We used to go with friends to buy motorcycles deep in the English countryside."
The meeting with Mister "Vincent"
About fifteen years ago, Florent was strolling through Rétromobile and stopped dead in his tracks in front of a breathtakingly beautiful machine. "I inquired, and Patrick Godet told me the whole story of the Egli-Vincent cafe racer." "I want one!" was the enthusiastic response of the motorcyclist in black leather. Patrick Godet immediately dampened his enthusiasm by announcing a one-year waiting period. "After a long year, Patrick told me he had a problem, several in fact..." Florent Pagny recalls. Not only was he no longer able to deliver the motorcycle, but he also couldn't refund the deposit because he was about to file for bankruptcy. Florent Pagny remembers that his career also had a significant downturn. At that time, he had taken a small office in Issy-les-Moulineaux, set up a company to produce his shows, and started learning "how it works." "I found myself so bogged down in a catastrophic situation that I had to learn to take things in hand." Florent understood that he needed the "right" people to manage a business. "Since my company was starting to do well, I suggested to Patrick that he come and see how his own business worked."
After a few discussions, Florent decided to help Patrick Godet. "I thought I'd put in €50,000, but I put in a lot more!" Florent recalls, laughing. "But it was my 'plaything.' If I let Patrick do it, he always took me further!" At one point, Florent Pagny said stop. "His business was complicated, and he wouldn't let me manage it with him." All the money that came in was immediately invested in parts, homologation, and racing, and Patrick Godet couldn't project very far because you don't sell €85,000 motorcycles every day! "I couldn't be the main shareholder and not own at least one Black Shadow." Florent then proposed a new deal to Patrick: you find me the "right" Vincents, and I'll have them restored here. Philanthropic and passionate, yes, but at least Florent would have something left of his investment. He is happy to say that this kept the workshop busy during slow times and that he has some beautiful Vincents in his garage. And then, one day in November 2018, Florent was informed that Patrick had "passed away."
It was difficult to imagine the future of Godet Motorcycles without Patrick Godet, an endearing and rugged character whose uncompromising nature had allowed him to continue manufacturing Vincents. It was also difficult for Florent Pagny to suddenly find himself with a business to run. Two years after Patrick Godet's death, the young team he had assembled has come to terms with that difficult time, and Florent Pagny has settled into his role as a moral heir. He has invested himself in leading this renowned yet fragile brand. With the help of Teodora, his colleague who left show business for motorcycles, Florent reorganized things with a manager's common sense. "When I took over, there were 17 motorcycles on order, including the Grey Flash that Brad Pitt had ordered two years earlier," Florent explains with a smile. "Patrick dreamed of Brad coming to Malaunay. Unfortunately, Mr. Pitt had obligations and never returned to Normandy." So, Patrick wasn't rushing to start work on the Grey Flash. That's how the French pope of Vincent was! "We quickly delivered Brad's motorcycle, but he wasn't waiting for it anymore, and we missed out on something," the new boss laments.
Today, the situation has also stabilized on the restoration front, an important activity for the workshop. "At one point, a machine that came in here might not leave for 4 or 5 years."
This was just about bearable because Godet enjoyed a global reputation. Let's remember that the "world's most expensive" motorcycle (Jack Ehret's Black Lightning Series C, sold for $929,000) was restored right here. But that wasn't reasonable, and the lead time has been reduced to six months by allocating the necessary resources. There will always be Vincents to rebuild or maintain, but Euro 5 standards can only narrow the ambitions of the small artisan.
"We have two years to figure out what we're going to become," Florent wonders. Repositioning ourselves on restoration or building non-homologated machines, or creating our own market niche... All solutions are being considered, and Florent Pagny even drove to Malaunay with an electric motorcycle to see. How can you imagine a Vincent powered by anything other than that fabulous V-twin, so ahead of its time? Perhaps by looking at what Jaguar envisioned for "old" E-Types. The project to convert E-Types to electric mode in their workshops had generated a lot of enthusiasm among owners. The project has since been abandoned, but battery technology is advancing by leaps and bounds. After an hour and a half of candid discussion, Florent Pagny took us to admire his new toy: a "concours" restored Black Shadow he had been waiting for for three years. He walks around it, discusses the curve of the exhausts with the guys, and savors the moment he will start it for the first time. "Good vibes" fill the atmosphere...
